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WGMA Spindale, NC
- Thread starter Whiplash
- Start date
I cannot recall the name of the gentleman that owned the station (maybe Billy something, possibly Moon, or was that Moonbeam Radio) but I understand he was an ordained minister. He passed away a few years back and I don't anything beyond that point.
He owned WAAK liscensed to Dallas, NC and WGMA, a 500 watt daytimer, in Spindale.
WGMA was Southern Gospel with a few teaching programs (in the 5 to 10 hours a week range) and they had some commercial advertisers. It is my understanding they were live, not automated.
I was told at one point they were billing around $60,000 a year.
If I recall correctly, they charged about $15 for a 30 minute program. I think their average 30 second rate was around $2.50 but I know they offered ROS 20 second spots at $1.50.
As I recall the guy I remember that owned the station was a really nice guy...the sort of guy that gave radio a good name and the sort of person you were happy you met.
He owned WAAK liscensed to Dallas, NC and WGMA, a 500 watt daytimer, in Spindale.
WGMA was Southern Gospel with a few teaching programs (in the 5 to 10 hours a week range) and they had some commercial advertisers. It is my understanding they were live, not automated.
I was told at one point they were billing around $60,000 a year.
If I recall correctly, they charged about $15 for a 30 minute program. I think their average 30 second rate was around $2.50 but I know they offered ROS 20 second spots at $1.50.
As I recall the guy I remember that owned the station was a really nice guy...the sort of guy that gave radio a good name and the sort of person you were happy you met.
If I recall correctly, the owner of WGMA when it was Southern Gospel was an ordained preacher. I recall his name: Billy Martin. Mr. Martin died around 2002 and I understand his surviving faminly assumed the station.
Prior to his ownership I know nothing of WGMA. Although I cannot say for sure, it seems WGMA was a fairly new addition to the radio dial. I seem to recall the station was either established by Billy Martin or it was early on in WGMA's life when he acquired it.
While the station may not have been a cash cow for the owner, it must have been a pretty nice place to work. Everyone was very friendly, seemingly relaxed and kind in my contact with them. You can tell those 'bad' stations because you can detect it over the phone and the employees quickly get this paranoid feeling when you ask questions.
WGMA hit my radar when a guy in Tennessee who was a broker had it listed for sale.
Prior to his ownership I know nothing of WGMA. Although I cannot say for sure, it seems WGMA was a fairly new addition to the radio dial. I seem to recall the station was either established by Billy Martin or it was early on in WGMA's life when he acquired it.
While the station may not have been a cash cow for the owner, it must have been a pretty nice place to work. Everyone was very friendly, seemingly relaxed and kind in my contact with them. You can tell those 'bad' stations because you can detect it over the phone and the employees quickly get this paranoid feeling when you ask questions.
WGMA hit my radar when a guy in Tennessee who was a broker had it listed for sale.
I think his last name was Dick...I seem to recall he had tons of small market stations for sale...sort of. I think most of his 'clients' let him list their stations in hopes they could find a sucker who would pay a better than fair price.
I came across him back when WWES AM in Hot Springs, VA was for sale. As I recall the asking price was $30,000. The station was billing about $12,000 to $15,000 a year, was up and running and had living quarters. No bad for a little daytimer.
I also recall he had something to do with a high on the AM dial daytimer in Soddy-Daisy, Tennessee. He was offering it for $50,000 plus $250,000 in commercials over 5 years.
I came across him back when WWES AM in Hot Springs, VA was for sale. As I recall the asking price was $30,000. The station was billing about $12,000 to $15,000 a year, was up and running and had living quarters. No bad for a little daytimer.
I also recall he had something to do with a high on the AM dial daytimer in Soddy-Daisy, Tennessee. He was offering it for $50,000 plus $250,000 in commercials over 5 years.
bturner said:I also recall he had something to do with a high on the AM dial daytimer in Soddy-Daisy, Tennessee. He was offering it for $50,000 plus $250,000 in commercials over 5 years.
It was 1550. This station was "sold" several times. 1550 was a "challenged" frequency with 1550 in Huntsville, 1550 in Cookeville TN (later moved to 780) and Canada controlling the channel at night. I worked at both 1550 Soddy-Daisy (a few months when I got out of the USAF) and WPTN 1550 when I was in college in the 1970's.
There was an earlier post saying "Website?". When these stations were listed (WGMA. WWES and the Soddy Daisy 1550) the public had never heard of the word internet. This would have been sometime in the 1980s...likely pre-1985.
Speaking of the Soddy-Daisy station, the info I used to have detailed their strange format. It seemed there were 3 hour blocks of different types of music: Top 50 (or was it 100) Greatest Hits of: Country, Adult Contemporary, Bluegrass, Easy Listening, Rock, etc. For example: Country 6 to 9am; Bluegrass 9 to Noon; Easy Listening Noon to 3; AC 3 to 6; Rock 6 to sign off; et. al. There was some 'game' where listeners picked up a 'game sheet' at participating businesses. It seemed a really tough 'sell' to listeners and advertisers to me.
I recall WWES in Hot Springs, Virginia, was adult contemporary, satellite delivered, and the big complaint from listeners was the same ads played in every stop set in the same order for long periods of time.
Speaking of the Soddy-Daisy station, the info I used to have detailed their strange format. It seemed there were 3 hour blocks of different types of music: Top 50 (or was it 100) Greatest Hits of: Country, Adult Contemporary, Bluegrass, Easy Listening, Rock, etc. For example: Country 6 to 9am; Bluegrass 9 to Noon; Easy Listening Noon to 3; AC 3 to 6; Rock 6 to sign off; et. al. There was some 'game' where listeners picked up a 'game sheet' at participating businesses. It seemed a really tough 'sell' to listeners and advertisers to me.
I recall WWES in Hot Springs, Virginia, was adult contemporary, satellite delivered, and the big complaint from listeners was the same ads played in every stop set in the same order for long periods of time.
knoxbob said:1550 was also in Oak ridge as WORI but is long since dark. The Soddy Daisy AM is now @ 1230 but has been dark for a while, I'm not sure if it still has an active STA or not.
At one time (late 1970's or early 1980's) Soddy Daisy was COL for three stations. 1230 and 1550 and 102.3 FM. I worked (briefly) at 1550 Soddy Daisy and yes there were three stations in Northern Hamilton County (an area that might support one). When I was working (sales) at 1550 AM Mr Dick's brother (who was good to work for) was running it. The station had been "foreclosed" some time earlier. It was automated southern Gospel, They said the automation system came from the old 1450 Chattanooga when it was country. I can't recall if Mr. Dick owned it or was the broker. The station's studios and offices were in a double wide. This was before 80 / 90 and all stations had to have someone with a broadcast endorsed 3rd or a first class when directional at the control point.
WGMA is still 500 watts on 1520 AM. It is still southern gosple with the occasional contemporary christian mixed in. They have 3 air staffers, MD Neil Murray pulls mornings/middays, longtime WOHS Shelby staffer Andy Foster is afternoons and operations manager. Weekends with Gordon Hoots...
If I had $75K what would I program it? How many Non National retail (and other potential sponcers) operations and car dealers are in the coverage area.
You also have to look at the competition that you have.
WCAB 5kw @ 590 AM country
WWOL 10kw @ 780 AM religious
WAGY 1kw d 500 nights @ 1320 country
WJFJ 25kw @ 1160 gospel music
On the FM side you have all the FM's from Charlotte, Asheville and Greenville coming in. None of them are serving Spindale except WNCW a non-com @ 88.7.
So being a 500 watter high up on the dial doing what everyone else is doing is going to be a tough sell.
WCAB 5kw @ 590 AM country
WWOL 10kw @ 780 AM religious
WAGY 1kw d 500 nights @ 1320 country
WJFJ 25kw @ 1160 gospel music
On the FM side you have all the FM's from Charlotte, Asheville and Greenville coming in. None of them are serving Spindale except WNCW a non-com @ 88.7.
So being a 500 watter high up on the dial doing what everyone else is doing is going to be a tough sell.
How did things shake out with WGMA? Looks like there's a health club where the tower site used to be. Or, am I mistaken?
How did things shake out with WGMA? Looks like there's a health club where the tower site used to be. Or, am I mistaken?
According to FCC webite the station is now WGTM and is silent. STA filing indicates they lost the tower site. That was filed back in December of 2015. I assume the license will be canceled as no new STA has been filed (at least according to the FCC website.)
How in the world little "puddle jumpers" like this have survived into the 21st century I can't imagine! Too bad though...gone like most other relics of small town America. Thank your local Walmart for that...
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